AMERICAN AVOSET. 25 



me, and betook themselves to their ordinary occupations, when I noted the 

 following particulars. 



On alighting, whether on the water or on the ground, the American 

 Avoset keeps its wings raised until it has fairly settled. If in the water, it 

 stands a few minutes balancing its head and neck, somewhat in the manner 

 of the Tell-tale Godwit. After this it stalks about searching for food, or 

 runs after it, sometimes swimming for a yard or so while passing from one 

 shallow to another, or wading up to its body, with the wings partially raised. 

 Sometimes they would enter among the rushes, and disappear for several 

 minutes. They kept apart, "hut crossed each other's path in hundreds of 

 ways, all perfectly silent, and without shewing the least symptom of enmity 

 towards each other, although whenever a Sandpiper came near, they would 

 instantly give chase to it. On several occasions, when I purposely sent forth 

 a loud shrill whistle without stirring, they would suddenly cease from their 

 rambling, raise up their body and neck, emit each two or three notes, and 

 remain several minutes on the alert, after which they would fly to their nests, 

 and then return. They search for food precisely in the manner of the 

 Roseate Spoonbill, moving their heads to and fro sideways, while their bill 

 is passing through the soft mud; and in many instances, when the water was 

 deeper, they would immerse their whole head and a portion of the neck, as 

 the Spoonbill and Red-breasted Snipe are wont to do. When, on the con- 

 trary, they pursued aquatic insects, such as swim on the surface, they ran 

 after them, and on getting up to them, suddenly seized them by thrusting 

 the lower mandible beneath them, while the other was raised a good way 

 above the surface, much in the manner of the Black Shear-water, which, 

 however, performs this act on wing. They were also expert at catching 

 flying insects, after which they ran with partially expanded wings. 



I watched them as they were thus engaged about an hour, when they all 

 flew to the islets where the females were, emitting louder notes than usual. 

 The different pairs seemed to congratulate each other, using various curious 

 gestures; and presently those which had been sitting left the task to their 

 mates and betook themselves to the water, when they washed, shook their 

 wings and tail, as if either heated or tormented by insects, and then proceed- 

 ed to search for food in the manner above described. Now, reader, wait a 

 few moments until I eat my humble breakfast. 



About eleven o'clock the heat had become intense, and the Avosets gave 

 up their search, each retiring to a different part of the pond, where, after 

 pluming themselves, they drew their heads close to their shoulders, and 

 remained perfectly still, as if asleep, for about an hour, when they shook 

 themselves simultaneously, took to wing, and rising to the height of thirty 

 or forty yards, flew off towards the waters of the Wabash river. 



Vol. VI. 4 



